#9 – The return of Party Poker

But Party’s period of exile is now over after they teamed up with the Borgata and launched two poker rooms in New Jersey last month.

So far Party Poker has been the dominant force in the US market, with a 50% market share in New Jersey. It’s still early, but thus far it looks like Party Poker will be picking up right where it left off.

#8 – Launch of online poker in Delaware

Sandwiched in between the launch of iGaming in Nevada and New Jersey, Delaware’s online poker industry has been flying under the radar (having an average of 25 players online at any given time will do that) but Delaware’s launch is still a pretty big deal.

Delaware is the only state of the three that is running their online gambling through the state’s lottery, and using a singled provider – 888 and Scientific Games.

And as I mentioned in this article, Delaware could very well be the lynchpin to interstate online poker.

#7 – The tumultuous rise of Bitcoin

The funny thing about this story is that it’s still developing, and we really don’t know if Bitcoin (and its role in online poker) is going to be a blip on the radar or a full-fledged revolution.

What we do know is that during 2013 Bitcoin went from a fringe currency worth a few bucks and lauded only by a few diehard advocates, to a potential game changer for currencies, trading at over $1,000 a piece, or a Bitcoin, or however you measure the things.

#6 – Sheldon Adelson

Sheldon Adelson tried to come in at the tail end of 2013 and upset the online poker apple cart in the US, calling for a federal ban of online gambling.

#5 – Full Tilt Poker remission process begins

Claims are supposed to start arriving at poker players’ doors sometime in early 2013 (March/April), but as we have all come to realize when it comes to Full Tilt Poker, a deadline is more of a recommendation than a covenant.

#4 – The fall of Lock Poker

Earlier this year it looked like Lock Poker and their troubling transaction times were about to be razed to the ground by the poker community, but somehow the site has managed to carry on, all the while fending off the torch and pitchfork crowd, even after leaving Revolution Gaming and striking out on their own.

#3 – PokerStars shut out of US market

PokerStars’ US aspirations were hampered with DOJ settlements, the five-year “bad actor” clause in Nevada, a rescinded deal with the Atlantic Club that led to a legal battle, a partnership with Resorts Casino, and finally the suspension of their license application for the foreseeable future by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement.

Poker players had hoped PokerStars would have a seat at the US online poker industry’s regulated table, but it simply wasn’t meant to be. The US market is now moving forward without the biggest brand in the industry.

Fortunately, the market is progressing in a good way, and in a couple of years US players could be saying, “PokerStars who?”

#2 – Launch of online poker in Nevada

You know it’s been a big year when the return of online poker (legal, licensed online poker to boot) is only in the #2 spot on this list.

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Steve Ruddock -
Steve covers nearly every angle of online poker in his job as a full-time freelance poker writer. His primary focus for OPR is the developing legal and legislative picture for regulated US online poker and gambling.